This guide was written for Dr. Bonnie O'Neill's MANA 3001 course, which works on the X-Culture projects.

If you're living off campus and haven't yet downloaded/installed the VPN, immediately below are instructions about that. 

Why download/install the VPN? 

The VPN (Duo Mobile and GlobalProtect together) allows an off campus computer to look like it is on campus. This is how many library database vendors recognize that you are affiliated with Marquette University, and permit you to access to the library databases.

Below are several databases to use for all the X-Culture projects.  And these are databases to which I cannot create durable links to specific content or reports:  you will have to learn about them, how to search in them, what are their limitations and strengths.

On a separate page are starting point resources to use for researching each industry / country.  They are organized by the names of the X-Culture client companies.

APA citation help:

• Library Login:  This method (a proxy server) is quick and easy, and requires no setup.  Just login before clicking on library links to databases. But a few databases will not work with it, and it is less reliable when there is heavy internet traffic or a slow connection.
• VPN (virtual private network): The VPN requires you to download an app onto both your cell phone and your computer.  It is much more reliable during times of heavy internet traffic, and is well worth the necessary setup time. Outline of the steps required for the VPN:
  1. Find detailed VPN instructions here. Once there, click on "How do I start using GlobalProtect VPN and Duo?"
  2. Register for Duo Mobile. Two ways to do that: via an email from ITS (helpdesk@marquette.edu; you can email and ask for "the VPN registration invitation email"); or if off-campus, via Office365.
  3. Download the Duo Mobile app onto your cell phone. Allow push notifications for it.
  4. Download the GlobalProtect app onto your computer.
  5. Complete GlobalProtect setup on your computer. (See step 3 instructions under "How do I start Using GlobalProtect VPN and Duo?") 

Although the detailed instructions page refers you to Information Technology Services for help, at the Raynor Information Desk we can also help with some parts of the process.  Give us a call at (414) 288-7556.

Here are some general guidelines for using these databases:

• Passport:  has great international coverage. There is a video demo for how to search in Passport too.
  1. Industry coverage: its greatest strength is in consumer packaged goods, but it does cover other industries such travel and tourism.  When selecting geographies, you'll get better results if you select individual countries, rather than just regions.  (E.g. China and Japan, instead of Asia-Pacific.)
  2. Country economic and social indicator data:  use Passport to pull and compare statistics on the countries (e.g. population, education, income, consumption expenditures; business environment data) that you're evaluating and considering recommending.
• IBISWorld:  coverage is primarily for the US, and uses the NAICS code as its organizing principle. However, it has very granular coverage of industries; it will help to explain the industry supply chain, even if you are more interested in other countries. 
• Refinitiv Workspace's After Market Research module: some instructions with screenshots are available here.  In addition to those instructions, add "marketline industry profiles" in the Contributor field.  Or, simply send me an email request to meet and I'll walk you through the steps required.  Please include a few dates/times that are convenient for you!  
• ABI/Inform Collection:  probably our largest trade article database. 

Because several of the X-Culture projects involve EdTech, or technology use in education, I also recommend that you consider using the databases below. 

This includes the projects for:  DifferChat, MetaCollective, The Finnish Schools International.